Editing Aloud

I don't remember when or where I saw (or heard) this piece of advice, but it's incredibly effective. I was reminded of it yesterday, when I read a paragraph of something I'd written to my partner. I stopped half-way through and had to correct an error that I hadn't noticed even when I'd read the piece several times.

Editing your own work is never a very good idea, especially at the later stages of preparation. The more times you read your own writing, the less likely you are to see a mistake, since your brain will retain increasing amounts of text. It will then supply you with what you wanted to write, rather than what you actually wrote.

For short articles or blog entries, it's unlikely you'll have a third party around to read everything you create. That's where a short pause and stepping away from the keyboard can be a great advantage. Clear your mind and come back with fresh eyes.

If you're writing something significantly bigger, such as an e-book or a novel, then you really need a separate person to look it over - several times. Choosing an editor is something very difficult, especially for the self-publishing author (so I'm told: I haven't tried it yet).

Returning to the point of this post, an exceptionally good way of editing your own work is to read it aloud. It doesn't have to be read to someone else, but you should read it out loud. No mumbling. Read the words in front of you, preferably on a printed page rather than the screen.

You'll be surprised just how many mistakes and unwieldy sentences you catch, even in the best writing.

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Posted By: SpikeTheLobster - Category: Writing

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Comment by Janet Collins

April 2nd 2009 14:27

Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog

You are right about the short articles and blogging. While most people could do with a helping hand with editing, it is not always available.

That is exactly the problem. Bloggers don't have editors

Comment by Spike 2

April 2nd 2009 14:38

Qwerk
Peanut Butter

I'll do it! For a mere $500 a month! Per blog!

Comment by Wilson Pon

April 2nd 2009 17:30

Health 2 Know
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Yeah, I agreed with your thought here, Spike. "Don't be shy and read it aloud!" This is what I always told my students...

Comment by Laura Thom

April 2nd 2009 17:34

Total Health Freak

Yes I often read my articles aloud but never my blog posts, hence the grammar mistakes. When I read into myself I always read 'down' as 'done', so miss this, whereas when reading aloud I would spot this.

Comment by Spike 2

April 2nd 2009 18:23

Qwerk
Peanut Butter

Wilson: Most of the people I know talk to themselves when they're on the computer anyway, so reading aloud doesn't make too much difference. Perhaps we should all try singing our blog entries? You could compete with your karaoke-obsessed neighbours.

Laura: Same here, though I read this one aloud for obvious reasons! Articles are more important in the sense that it's usually more difficult - if not impossible - to go back and edit them later!

Comment by Anonymous

April 2nd 2009 19:02

sound advice; I find myself having to go back and make my writing easier to read with better use of punctuation.

Comment by Spike 2

April 2nd 2009 23:09

Qwerk
Peanut Butter

Anon: Do you find that you punctuate differently at different times? I've discovered that I do - first time and second time through are really different. Third time, it goes back to a more balanced middle ground. Very odd.

Comment by samaritan

April 3rd 2009 12:43

Samaritan's Stories

One thing that is even better - if it's possible - is to get someone else to read your work aloud. That way, you can see the sentences they have difficulties over and which phrases don't quite flow the way we thought they would. Plus, they're more likely to actually read what's there (instead of reading what we know is meant to be there). It's not always that easy to find someone who is willing to read your work out loud to you though.

Samaritan

Comment by Spike 2

April 3rd 2009 20:58

Qwerk
Peanut Butter

Samaritan: Now that's a really good idea. Maybe you just discovered a "niche market" - transcript reader! Record yourself and email them an MP3 file or something.